Storage equipment



Dec. 30, 1958 L. E. wHrrHAM 2,865,563"

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STORAGE EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 8, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY M 277% ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1958 E. wHn'HAM STORAGE EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 8, 'i957 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR oa/5 E.

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ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1958 L. E. wHlTHAM STORAGE: EQUIPMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 8. 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEK MUM@ 2,866,563 sToRAGE EQUIPMENT Louis E. Whitham, Austin, Tex.

'Application January 8, 1957,' Serial No. 633,086

9. claims; (C1. zut-16.1) i

This invention relates to storage equipment, and more particularly to equipment for parking automobiles.

lt is well known that the off-street parkingof automobiles isone of the nations major problems. Many efforts have been made to solve the problem, but most ofhthem have been unsatisfactory for one reason or anot er.

Many of the mechanical parking systems that have been proposed have involved the use of elevators for moving the automobiles from the level on which they arrive at a parking facility to higher or lower levels. Some of these elevator systems also move thev automobiles to be stored laterally in order to place them in stalls located in fixed structures at a distance from the point at which they are received. In nearly all of such systems the automobiles to be parked are moved onand off the elevators by mechanical dollies or carriers. Each car parked in such systems must `be handled vfour times by such mechanisms. This involves a great deal of delay, Yoften results in damage to the cars, and requires operationand maintenance of expensive equipmentf An elevator that moves laterally a considerable distance and vertically several stories to reach a parking stall is a cumbersome,

complicated and expensive thing. y Y

All systems of the nature just described have a common fault which greatly impairs their usefulness. .As each automobile arrives to be parked, the elevator must 'go through a complete cycle of operations. The dolly must load the car onto the elevator, the elevatorsmust move vertically and horizontally to the chosen parking: stall, and the dolly must place the automobile therein. The elevator must then return to the point ,of beginning before another arriving automobile canV be parked. Even. if all the movements described can be performed in one minute, the method is not suitable for parking garages where many cars are to be accommodated and where they arrive in bunches. A one-elevator garage of the kind above described can park or unpark, say, one car per minute.`

Should ten arrive in one minute, nine of them mustlwait, and if cars continue to arrive at the rate of several per minute the streets in the neighborhood of the garage become congested with cars Waiting their turn to be parked. To speed up this operation more elevators must be used. To handle ten cars per minute, for instance,rten of the cumbersome, expensive elevators musi be available, each with a qualified operator plus asi'sstants to direct the patrons.

Another weakness of the majority of parking systems offered for use at present is that they usurp the entire area of the site which they occupy. Usually, most of the ground floor is used for receiving the automobiles toV be parked, and the parking stalls occupy several stories of a building to the exclusion of all else.` There are a great many parking projects projected for areas beneath public parks, state house and court house grounds, and the like, where the surface of the site must be kept free or nearly free of encroachment by the structures and devices used for parking. For locations such as these and foruse in i ice large buildings such as oce buildings, department stores, hotels, banks and such edices where the ground oor is too valuable to be largely given over to parking automobiles the present invention is especially well suited.-

The general object of this invention is to provide` store age equipment which will permit the storing of a large number of automobiles quickly and safely, while utilizing a minimum amount of the availablel floor space and-en'- croaching'very little onthe valuable street-level areara't the site of the facility.

According-to the present invention an automobile storage facility is provided with a large storage area at a level or'levels other than the street level,l while a minor fraction of the street level area is adapted'for the loading and unloading ofautomobiles. Multilevel'carriers trans.- fer automobiles from the street level to a storageA level and perfo-rm the dual function of serving as storage stalls for the automobilesl during` storage. The carrier-,stalls Vare groupedtogether on thestorage level in trains which reciprocate along paths extending over elevator platforms arranged in rows extending transversely of such trains.

When it is desired to store an automobile in a selected carrier-stall, the train which includes such carrier-Stallmay be moved to position it upon anelevator platform. The elevator platform then may move vertically to bring the carrier-stall to the street level where an automobile may be driven into position thereon. By reversingthis procedure, the loaded carrier-stall may be returned to its train at the storage level.

By the provision of a number of independently movable carrier trains each served by its own elevator means, it is posisble to carry onthe required handlingtoperations for many automobiles simultaneously. Moreover', the structures are so coordinated that the portion of the street level area which need be devoted to parking facilities includes only two lanes for the movement of automobiles and a waiting room, which waiting room is usable for many other purposes. i i l While most of the available or proposed-parking systems in connection with which elevators are used, are based on the principle of receiving an automobile for storage and moving it by some means to a fixed storage stall,.the present invention employs the very diierent procedure of taking the stall to the elevator with outstandingly advantageous results. There have been parking systems suggested which have one or more st alls attached to la singleeelevator, but these are not comparableto the novel idea presented in this invention, of a number of multicompartment cages, which function bothvas carriers and as storage stalls combined in a single unit or train.

The patron of a garage which is equippedrwith the present invention drives his cardirectly intoa parking stall, a much better arrangement than having his car handled, probably roughly, several times by a dolly, and

'not to be compared with driving his car onto a platform,

which platform then must be transported to alseparate structure containing a fixed storage stall or compartment. It will be remembered too that moving such platforms to storage brings to the procedure the disadvantage of the unbreakable cycle of operations discussedabove,

Referring further to parking systemsusing platforms, it is very doubtful if any of them will perform thefunction of parking cars as well as the present invention. Even though some of them, such as those based on thefidea Qf a rectangular circuit operating horizontally, might s erve some purpose for use in parking facilities limited to a single floor, when it becomes; necessary to add other floors above or below the receiving point, many yadditional time wasting operations and bottle necks areU enf.

invention that addsagreat deal combination carrier-storage compartment cages used in th'system can accommodate more than one automobile. There are many advantages inherent in the multi-compartment cages which are important to the` eiciency and Veconomy of the present invention,` but the one that transcends all othersin its importance is the added operating `efiiciency made possiblerby the use of such cages.` This is `one of the important factors that enables this invention to park and unpark automobiles atthe rate of ten to twenty per minute, a speed `impossible for other systems, such as those referred tofabove, to attain. As the description of this inventionproceeds, it will be seen that an empty, tiered cage holding three automobiles can be readily removed from the train ofcages and its bottom compartment placed at the loading level. After the firstI fit vertically to the loading level.

There have been a few systems oered that have cages accommodating more than one automobile fixed to and made an integral part of the elevator. None of these seem to have the objective attained by the present invention. They are not shiftable and require a separate elevator for each storage unit. Multi-compartment elevator cages offered by other systems are-not used for the simple purpose of receiving an automobile into storage and retaining it until called for, but are used to move a series of singe platforms or carriers circuitously until the one selected reaches a storage` or unloading position.

One suggested system has tiers of cages movable for the sole purpose of permitting an elevator to operate be- `tween two rows of such tiers. Room for the elevator having been made by moving the tiered storage stalls, the system becomes merely another one of the type in which anelevator moves the cars horizontally and vertically to a storage stall, using one of the various means of loading the automobile on and off the elevator.

.The arrangements contemplated `by this invention for the various pieces of equipment and the structures employed offer many other advantages which will become apparent in connection with the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l s a somewhat diagrammatic vertical cross sectional view of a building containing suitable equipment for the narking of automobiles in the basement in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention:

Fm. 2 is a partal plan view of the ground oor of the building shown in Fig. l;

Fitz. 3 is an end elevational view of a cage unit utilized in the present invention:

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the cage unit shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of such cage, with part of the top cover omitted; l

Fig.' 10 is a detail vertical cross sectional view taken along the line `10--10 of Fig. 13;`

Fig. .l1 isadetail vertical cross sectional view illus- Y 4 trating the relationship between the automobile cages and a connecting frame for'such cages;

Fig. 12 is a detail horizontal cross sectional view of a cushioning device utilized in the mechanism for moving the connecting framework for the cages;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the connecting framework for the cages, with the cages removed therefrom in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic vertical cross sectional view `equipment for the parking of automobiles above the street level floor.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the arrester device of Fig. 8;

Before proceeding with the detailed description, it is desired to point out that the system of this invention con templates the storage of automobiles below, above, or both below and above, the level of the street. The em bodiments of Figs. 1, 17 and 15, deal respectively with these different situations. Since many of the features of the invention are common to the several embodiments, they need be described only with reference to a single embodiment. For this purpose, emphasis will be given to the description of the embodiment of Fig. 1 et seq. wherein provisions are made for storage below the level of the street.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a parking building has been designated generally by the numeral 2. As the description proceeds,

Vit will be apparent that the particular form illustrated is exemplary only and that the building structure may be ,.varied. or the equipment installed underground with no ally indicated at 6. to provide space for oflices, shops,

and the like, as well as to provide a waiting room 8 for parking patrons, and two lanes 10 and 12 for the loading and unloading of automobiles. The waiting room 8 preferably occupies the space between the two lanes 10 and 12.

The building 2 also includes a basement area 14 of a height somewhat in excess of the height of three automobiles, for a purpose which will be apparent as the description proceeds. The basement area 14 may be devoted entirely to the storage of automobiles.

Each of the lanes 10 andV 12 includes a series of re `movable hatchway or hatch covers 16 supported by the ground floor o-f the building 2 and covering openings 18 in such oor. The dimensions of each hatchway cover 16 are such that an automobile may bc accommodated thereon. It will be seen. therefore, that when all of the hatchway covers 16 are in position'on the ground oor 4 of the building 2,` the lanes 10 and 12 will be substantially unobstructed so that automobiles may move the entire length of these lanes, when necessary, in cnterng or leaving the building 2. Of course, automobile movements of lesser extent are possible also. Each individual hatchway may be traversed by traic when the cover 16 therefor is in closed position on the ground oor 4.

Beneath each of the hatchway covers 16, there is located an elevator designated generally by the numeral 20. Each elevator 20 has an elevator platform 21 for lifting or lowering automobile-carrying cage units or carriers 2 Zthrough the openings 18 in the ground Hoor l4 of the building. The cages 22 are arranged in the storage area in trains of substantial length, each extending acca-see Atransversely with respect to the ilanes 1li-and 12 at fthe ground level of the building.

The cages 22 of each train are connected together for horizontal movement by a connecting frame 24, to `be described in greater detail hereinafter. Although the frame 24 connects the cages 22 together for horizontal movement, the relationship is such that anyone kof the cages may be moved vertically relative to the remaining Vcages of the train. Eig. l illustrates a train of twelve cages 22, but it will `be apparent that the number of cages lin ythe train may be varied in yaccordance with the space available in the storage area 14. Each train of cages 22 is served by a pair of elevators 20, one under each lane wand 12.

The cages 22and the connecting framesf24 are mounted `for movement along the floor 26 of the storage area 14 by means of tracks or rails 28, secured to such floor, substantially at right angles to the direction of the lanes and 12. Short track sections 29 are carried by each of the elevator platforms 21 in alignment with .the

vtracks 28 to form continuations thereof. Wheels 30 and 32, carried respectively by the cages 22 and the frames 24, cooperate with the rails 28 and 29 defining the paths of movement of the several trains of cages.

Each of the connecting frames 24 is attached at its ends to flexible cables 34 (Fig. l2), extending from `upright hydraulic jack mechanisms 36 and'38 (Fig. l) located adjacent the side walls of the basement 14. The jacks 36 and 38 and the means for connecting the cables 34 thereto have not been illustrated in detail in the drawings because the structures involved are familiar yto persons skilled in the art of hydraulics as well as the art of elevators.

However, it is pointed out that for greatest economy in installation, the jack mechanisms 36 and 38 may have relatively short lifts, provided only that they be put to a mechanical disadvantage by suitable arrangements of pulleys over which the cables 34 may be led. In the particular embodiment diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l, it is contemplated that the jacks 36 and 3S will be put to a mechanical disadvantage of ve to one, so that the jack mechanisms 36 and 38 need not be buried beneath the basement floor 26 in order to provide space for vertical movement corresponding in extent to the transverse movements required of the cage trains.

Although jacks and cables are shown in the drawings, other means, such as electric motors and chains and sprockets, could be used if desired. Jacks are probably preferable because they permit use of standard hydraulic elevator controls for positioning selected cages, and if hydraulic elevators are employed for the vertical movement, the motors and pumps used for the elevators can also serve the jacks that move the cage train transversely of the vehicle lanes.

Suitable controls are provided for the jack mechanisms 36 and 38 so that the positions of the cage trains may be regulated with precision to dispose selected ones of the cages 22 upon the platforms 21 of the elevators 20..

These controls may be of a type well known in `the art, and ordinarily used to stop hydraulic elevators at selected floors. In the customary use of such controls, the procedure sometimes followed in levelling an elevator is to overrun slightly the stopping point on the upward movement, and then let gravity cause the elevator cage to settle back to the selected stopping point.

A variation of this procedure is applicable to the control of the jack mechanisms of this invention, even though the arrangement is such that gravitational forces are not useful. Since the jack mechanisms 36 and 33 are connected to both ends of a train of cages 22, the ram of one jack mechanism must rise simultaneously with the descent of the ram of the other jack mechanism. Moreover, means `to be described in detail hereinafter are provid-ed for maintaining the cables 34 in a taut pondition at all times. This means that as oil is pumped into vdisposed in vertical alignment.

however, that this invention is not limited to the use of 6 the rising jack it is removed at .an ,equal .rate 4-of .speed from the one being lowered. itis important to notethat the rate of speed at which ,the oil leaves `the downwardly moving jack is largelydependent on the pulling action transmitted through the cables 34 of the rising jack. This .pull has much the same eect on the control of the ram as does the force of gravitybn the Acontrol of an elevator, and makes Vpossible the accurate stops vneeded for positioning the cages 22vover the elevators 20.

The electrical controls for both jacks :are so coordinated that as the oil supply valve onV one opens, the oildepletion valve on the. other will open simultaneously,

and tothe same relativedegree. Therefore, if, in starting,

vthe up jack receives a gradually increasing Aflow. of oil, the down jack twill discharge a gradually increasing iow. Likewise, -in approachingafstopping point,

the intake of oil by one'will vgraduallydecrease .to match` the gradually,decreasingoutput of the other.

It vshould be noted also that vthe two-jack .arrangement makes possible the locking yof Ithe yconnecting framework 24 so as not to allow it .to beimoved either forward :or

backward, `because each jack piston, when stopped, `is

supported on an incompressable column of oil. The cables 34 are kept taut by the means by vwhichthey are attached at each corner ,of the frame j24. When activation of the controls stops `the movement of both jack mechanisms 36 an-d 38 simultaneously the cables 34 reaching from each end of the linking frame 24 to a jack are, due to the arrangement and coordinated movement of the dual jacks, in a taut condition, and the train, being retained in the frame 24, is locked against further movement on its track.

When .the cages 22 .are properly positioned relative to the elevators 20, either of the elevators 20 serving the particular cage train involved may be actuated to lift the platform 21 thereof. As axcage 22 moves upwardly, it comes intocontact wththe hatchway cover 16 thereabove and lifts the hatchway cover 16 vertically with `respect to the ground `floor 4 of the building. Vertical guide rails 4G ..(Fig. l) are. fixed in position alongside the paths of movement of the several hatchway covers 16, and on opposite sides of the lanes 10 and 12, so as .to guide the ,covers in their vertical movements.

When a cage 22 has been elevated suiiciently, the elevator k20 is stopped, and an automobile may be loaded onto the cage. Then the cage 22 may be returned to the cage train located inthe storage area. These operations will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that each of the cages or carriers 22 includes three horizontal automobile supporting surfaces. or oors y42, .44, and 46, yIt will be understood,

three automobile supporting surfaces on each of the carriers 22. 1 A greater or lesser number may be used, when desired.

Each of the floors 42, 44, and 46, is rectangular in shape and of a size to accommodate an automobile. .For convenience in loading the automobiles onto the several floors, each oor may be provided With slightly raised guide strips 4S along which the wheels of the automobiles may move. If desired, curbing, or other guiding means, may be used in lieu of or in `addition to the strips 4S. The upper surfaces. of the guide strips 48 may be painted in colors, (if desired, contrasting to those -used for the rest of the floors with which they are associated, and the. upper surfaces of these guide strips 48 may be knurled,` if desired, to enchance the friction developed between `the tires of the automobiles and such surfaces.

The iioors 4 2, 44, and 46, of each cage 22 are Connected' together and supported by a structural framework includa ing vertical columns. 5G extending along the sidesrof the cage unit 22 and horizontal members `52 attached to the columnsSQ. Brace members ,54 Yextend laterally between the horizontalmembers 52 `to provide the necessary` 7 rigidity to the iloors42, 44, and 46. The top of a cage may be covered, if desired, as indicated at 55.

Near the four corners of the bottom of each of the cage units 22rthere are located wheels 30, the axes of which extend lengthwise with respect to the cage unit. These wheels 30 permit movement of each cage 22 in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the automobiles areloaded onto such cage.

Each hatch cover 16 is `provided with a floor 58 (Figs. 6 and 7) `which is similar in construction to the floors 42, 44, and 46, of the cage units 22. The floor 58 is supported by transversely extending braces 60 carried by a structural framework 62. Along each side of each hatch cover 16 there are a group of laterally extending flanges or brackets 64 which serve to support the hatch cover upon the ground oor 4 of the building 2.

In this connection, attention is invited to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, which show a special device associated with the oor 4 in position to cooperate with a laterally extending flange 64 of a hatchway cover 16. It will be understood that there are a number of these devices in positions for cooperating with brackets 64 on the several hatchway covers 16. Each of these devices includes a block 66, xe'd by bolts 68 or other suitable means, to the floor 4, along the side edge of an opening 18 in such floor 4. The block.66 has an opening therein for `the `reception of a metal housing 70 which may be secured to the block 66 by nails 72 or other suitable means.

Extending through thebottom of the housing 70 is a bolt 74 having a cap-plate 76 fixed to the upper end thereof. Intermediate the ends of the bolt 74 is a nut 78 which may bear upon the bottom of the housing 70. The cap-plate 76 serves as a stop to limit the compression of the spring 80 in the event that very large loads are applied thereto.

The upper ends of the side walls of the housing 70 are inclined, as indicated at 84, and these inclined portions serve to guide the cooperating bracket 64 of a descending vertically slidable hatchway cover 16 into alignment with the plunger 82 in the eventthat the parts are not in exact alignment.

As a hatchway cover 16 descends into position upon the plungers 82, the springs 80 supporting such plungers 82 are compressed, and the weight of the hatchway cover 16 is transmitted gradually to the ground floor 4 of the building. This elimination of shock makes possible rapid operation of the equipment in that there is no tendency for the hatchway covers 16 to bounce as they are lowered into position with respect to the ground oor 4 of the building.

The hatchway covers 16 have an` important function in addition to that of providing closures for the openings 18 in the ground floor 4 of the building 2. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, there are four conical guide pins 86 protrudingfrom the lower surface ofeach of the hatchway covers 16 for cooperation with holes 88 (Fig. 5) in the upper cover 55 of each of the cage units 22. As a cage 22 is raised by one of the elevators 20, the holes 88 in the top of the cage move into cooperating relationship with the guide pins 86 so as to tix the hatchway cover 16 against lateral movement relative to the cage unit 22. The vertical rails 40 confine the hatchway cover 16 against lateral movement relative to the building 2, and thereby guide the hatchway cover in its vertical sliding movement with the cage.

Two of the brackets 64 on each side of each hatchway cover 16 carry guide roller assemblies 90 of a type frequently used in connection with building elevators. The guide rollers of each assembly 90 are so arranged as to grip the sides and edge of one of the vertical rails 40 fixed with-respect to the building2. It will be seen, therefore, that since the hatchway cover 16 is guided by the rails 40, and since the cage unit 22 therebeneath is coupled to the hatchway cover, the cage unit is constrained against swaying movements, etc., which might interfere with the loading or unloading of automobiles.

The construction of the connecting frameworks 24 for the trains of cages 22 can best be understood by reference to Figs. l0 and l3. Each of the frameworks 24 includes a pair of elongated bars 92, shown in Fig. l0 as I-beams. The bars 92 of a pair are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the rails 28 upon which the train of cages 22 move along the floor 26 of the storage area in the building 2, and they are connected together by transversely extending pipes 94 having rods 96 secured thereto by bolts 98 and protruding from the ends thereof.

Rotatably mounted upon the rods 96 are the flanged wheels 32 which also travel on the rails 28 therebeneath. Also rotatably mounted upon each of the rods 96 is a pusher roller 102. The roller 102 is axially spaced from the wheel 32 by any suitable spacing means 104 and is rotatable relative to the wheel 32.

Referring now to Fig. 11, the function of the pusher rollers 162 will be described. This View shows fragments of two adjacent cage units 22, and illustrates the relationship between the pusher rollers 102 of the connecting frame 24 and such cage units. The vertical columns 50 of each of the cage units 22 are cut away at their lower end portions, as indicated by the numeral 106 to permit the positioning of the shaft 96 in the manner illustrated in Fig. l1. This construction minimizes the waste space between adjacent cage units 22. For installations where the storage area is above the street level floor, rather than in the basement, a somewhat different spacing of the connecting frame and pusher wheel is required but the principle remains unchanged.

The end portions of the bottom horizontal members 52 of eachof the cage units 22 are partially cut away and have welded thereto sections 108 with arcuate bearing surfaces aligned with the pusher rollers 102 on the connecting frame 24. These members may be specially fabricated or formed, as shown. A slot, not shown, may be provided for the reception of the flange of each trackreceiving wheel 32 of the connecting frame 24.

It will be seen that as the connecting frame 24 is moved along the tracks 28, the pusher rollers 102 will bear against the arcuate surfaces 108 of the cage unit 22 to move them along the tracks 28 also. It is pointed out that the connecting frame 24 merely confines the cages 22 for movement as a unit, in a train; it does not function as a support for the cage units. The tracks 28 Support both the cage units 22 and the connecting framework 24.

Since the pusher rollers 102 are rotatable, they may serve also as guides for aligning the cages 22 with respect to the connecting frame 24 upon vertical movement of the cages 22. Should a cage 22 be slightly out of line as it moves downwardly on the elevator, the lower edges of the arcuate sections 188 on one side thereof will come in contact with pusher rollers 102 on the connecting framework 24. A camming action will follow, and this will serve to move the connecting framework 24 slightly so that the cage 22 may assume its proper relationship with respect to the connecting framework 24.

The slight relative movement of the connecting framework 24 required in a situation such as that just described, is made possible by the use of the special device shown in Fig. 12` of the drawings. The ends of each of the longitudinally extending bars 92 of the connecting framework 24 have welded thereto housings 110 for springs 112. Each spring 112 is confined between an end plate 114 welded to the housing 110 and a platell rigidly aixed to a member 118 which extends through an opening in the end plate 114. A cable 34 is attached to the outermost end of the member 118 by any suitable means.

This construction permits some relative movement between the connecting framework 24 and the cables 34 that position it.

springs 112 also serve to minimize the accelerations 4imparted to the cage trains due to the starting and stopping of the jack mechaniums 36 and 28. This tends .to minimize the possibility of damage vto vthe automobiles being stored. Additionally, the springs i112 seive to maintain the cables 34, which pull the framework 2li, `in a taut condition.

Fig. 14 illustrates another distinctive feature of the present invention. As pointed out above, the tracks 28 on the lstorage area floor 2d of the building 2 are interrupted at `the elevators 2d. However, the elevator plat- .forms 21 carry tracks 29 which move into alignment with the tracks 28, as the elevator platforms are lowered into their lo-wermost positions. Hence, as a `cage22 is moved .onto an elevator platform 21, it is automatically constrained against relative movement in a direction parallel to the lanes lt) vand 12 by the relationship between the rollers 30 and the rail sections 29. Means for centering the cage on the elevator platform and constraining the vcage against `movement in a direction parallel .to the track section 29 now will be described in connection with Fig. 14.

The elevator platform 2.1 is not iixed rigidly .with respect to the yrest of the elevator structure. Some limited amount of relative movement in a vertical direction is possible. The elevator platform 21 is provided with laterally extending flanges or brackets 120 similar to the brackets 6d on the hatchway covers 16. The brackets 129 are arranged to cooperate with arrester devices such as that shown in Figs. 8 and 9, located in the basement door 26 Iof `the building.

Rigidly connected to each elevator is a bolster 122 which normally fits within a recess in the elevator platform 2l. However, when the elevator platform 21 has .been lowered into engagement with the arrester devices carried by the basement floor 26, the bolster 122 may continue its downward movement and move away from The bolster 122 carries a wedge 124 opening 126 in the elevator the platform 21. which may extend through an platform 21.

The frame v,of each of the `cage units 22, at the bottom thereof, carries a pair of spaced apart, steel rollers 128 at about the same level as the rollers 3i) which are mounted on the tracks 23 on the basement floor and substantially at the center of the cage.

After -a cage unit 22 has been moved into position upon an elevator platform 21, the elevator 20 may start its upward movement. The initial portion of this movement does not affect the elevation of the .elevator platform 21. However, the bolster 122 does rise and the wedge 124 moves upwardly through the opening 126 in the elevator platform 2l into the space between the rollers 128 carried bythe cage 22.

The spacing of the rollers 128 is such that the wedge 124, when forced between them, acts to move the cage to which they are attached a few inches in either direction, if necessary, s o as to position it accurately in the center of the elevator platform. At the moment when the bolster 122 moves into contact with the elevator platform 2-1 the wedge 12d will be clamped between the two rollers. Thus, the wedge 124 and the rollers 128 cooperate to position the cage accurately on the platform and to secure it there.

The operation of the embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 14 should now be apparent. However, a description of the use of the equipment may be helpful to a complete understanding of the invention.

As a starting point, let it be assumed that there are no automobiles in the building 2, but that the attendant anticipates the arrival of a large number of automobiles during a short period of time. ln preparation for this influx, the attendant may actuate the controls of all of the elevators 20 in the building 2 to give them full upward movements. Such movements will bring the lowermost doors 42 of two carrier-cages 22 from each ofthe cage 4which automobiles may be driven.

l@ trains i-nto alignment with the `loading floor 4 of the building 2. When the devices are in these positions, the -oors 42 of the cages 22 will form unobstructed lanes over These lanes correspond to ythose designated by the numerals lil and 12 in Figs. l and 2.

Upon the arrival of the lirst automobile at the garage 2, the operator instructs the driver of such automobile to proceed down the full length of one of the lanes of cages 22, and stop when in position on the floor 42 of the last cage 22 in such lane. The driver will be instructed, also, to set the emergency brake of his automobile before leaving it. It will be seen, in this connection, that all `of the loading operations are performed by the owner of the automobile, rather than by a garage attendant.

The next car arriving at the garage 2 may be directed along the same lane as the first car, to the last one of the carriers 22 which has not been occupied. Alternatively, such next car might be directed into the other one of the lanes of carrier-cages 22, and instructed to proceed to a position upon the unoccupied floor 42 of the last cage in such lane. Subsequently arriving automobiles can be positioned on other unoccupied floors 42 of the various positioned cages or carriers. l

Immediately after the rst car to arrive at the garage 2 has been positioned upon the floor 42 of a carrier 22, the elevator 20 beneath such carrier may be actuated to lower the carrier 22 to a level such that the intermediate supporting surface or floor 44 is in alignment with the street oor 4 of the building. In this way, the carrier 22 may be conditioned for the reception of another automobile very quickly. It should be noted also that vertical movement of the endmost carrier in a lane of carriers may take place during a period in which automobiles are being driven onto other carriers in the line. As the loading -operations continue, each of the carriers 22 may be lowered still further, to position the uppermost supporting surfaces or floors 46 in alignment with the street floor 4 o-f the building.

This operation may be reversed, if desired, by first loading the top iioor 46 on each carrier 22, and then in succession, raising the carriers step-by-step until all are lled.

When a cage 22 has been fully loaded at all three of its floors 42, 44, and 46, such cage may be lowered to the basement of the building and into cooperating relationship with one of the connecting frameworks 24. The loaded cage 22 is then shifted horizontally by actuation of the jacks 36 and 3S, and a cage 22 with one or more vacant compartments is moved into position upon the elevator 20. This empty cage may then be raised, or lowered, to the street oor 4 of the building where the previously described sequence of operations may be repeated. i

When an automobile is to be removed Vfrom storage, the

attendant actuates the jacks 36 and 38 adjacent the ends of the cage train in which the automobile'to be removed is. located. Movement of this cage train positions'the selected cage 22 upon one or the other of the elevator platforms 21 serving such cage train. Then the elevator 4Ztlis actuated to lift or lower the cage 22 to a level such that the-iloor thereof supporting the automobile to be removed is in alignment with the street lploor 4 of the building 2. The owner of the automobile may then drive it out of the building 2 by proceeding along one vof the 1 lanes l0 or 12.

,Since the shifting movements of severalcage trains may take place simultaneously, and since the vertical movements of one or more of the elevators 20 may take place during shifting movements of other cage trains, it is possible to. carry on several cycles of unloading operations simultaneously.

The particular spacing of the elevators 20 shown in Fig. 1 is especially advantageous. AIt should be noted that the space between the elevators 20 serving the cage train, illustrated in Fig. 1, is equal to the width of five of the` cages22. that there are twelve cages 22 in that train, and that the combined length of the tracks 28, 29, exceeds the length of the cage train by approximately five cage widths. Although the numbers of units involved are not particularly important, the relationship just described is significant. It will be observed in this connection that an end of the path of a train is beyond the nearest lane of elevators a distance no shorter than a determinable number of cage widths, which number is at least as great as one less than the quotient obtained by dividing the number of the cages in the train by the number of elevators serving the train. For example, where the trains include twelve cages and are served by two elevators, the ends of the paths of the trains are at least five cage widths from the elevators.

With this relationship, the maximum movement required of the twelve-cage train shown in Fig. l in order to position a selected cage 22 upon an elevator platform 21 is equal to five times the width of a cage unit 22. The storage space lost due to the requirement of room for shifting the cage trains backward and forward over the elevators varies with the number of cages in the train. The percentage of potential storage space lost because of the space used for shifting varies from about 27% for an eight-cage train to about `32% for a fifteen-cage train.

The use of two elevators 20 for each of the cage trains has another significant advantage. When automobiles are being removed from storage at a rapid rate, instances will occur with reasonable frequency in which one movement of a cage train will position cages 22 containing automobiles to be `removed over both of the elevator platforms serving that train.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. and 16. In this embodiment, a parking building `200 is compartmented and equipped to permit the storing of automobiles in the basement area 202 and in an area 204 located above the level of the street tloor 206. As in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the street floor 206 of the building 200 may include shops 208, as well as a waiting room 210, and a pair of loading lanes 212 and 214.

The basement 202 of the building may be much like the basement area 14 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l. It may include tracks upon which cage units 216 and connecting frameworks are moved transversely with respect to the lanes 212 and 214, and jack mechanisms may be employed for positioning the cage units 216. Many of these details have been omitted from Fig. 15 in the interest of clarity.

The upper storage level 204 is provided with a oor 218 carrying` tracks 220 and having openings 222 in alignment with the paths of elevators 224. Normally, the tracks 220 extend across the openings 222, as shown at the right in Fig. 15, and at the left in Fig. 16. However, when the elevators 224 are moved into position for the transfer of cage units 216, appropriate sections of the tracks 220 may be shifted so as to leave the openings 222 unobstructed.

When both storage levelsare used, the complexity of the system is increased somewhat by the `necessity of coordinating the movements of the cage trains at the two storage levels.

Still another embodimentof the invention is illustrated in Fig. 17. In this embodiment, automobiles are stored exclusively in a storage floor above the street level oor, rather than in the basement, or in both the basement and above the street level floor.

A lbuilding 230, having a ground floor 232 and an upper floor 234, is utilized. As in the other embodiments, the ground oor 232may include shops 236, or the like, as well. as a waiting room 238 for patrons, and a pair of ,loading`lanes e240 and 242. f

At each of the loading lanes 240 and 242, the ground oor 232 of the building 230 is provided with an aligned series of openings 244 which correspond to the openings 18 in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l. The openings 244 communicate with suitable pits 246 which receive elevators 248.

The elevators 248 preferably are of the hydraulic type, and the upper end of the movable member of each of them carries a structure which includes a platform 250, a base 252, and vertical support members 254 connecting the platform 250 to the base 252. The base 252 has a width such that an automobile may pass between the vertical support members 254 when the elevator is positioned as illustrated at the left in Fig. 17. The upper surface of the base 252 may be provided with suitable guide means comparable in function to the strips 58 on the hatchway covers 16 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

The platform 250 associated with each of the elevators 248 carries short track sections 256 in alignment with tracks 258 mounted on the upper oor 234 of the building 230. In general, this relationship is comparable to that which exists between the tracks 28 and the track sections 29 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1. The tracks 258 are interrupted at the openings 259 in the upper lloor 234, and the track sections 256, when properly positioned, bridge the gaps in the tracks 258.

The tracks 256 and 258 cooperate with wheels on each of a plurality of cage units 260 and with wheels on a framework 262 connecting the cage units 260 together to form a train. Suitable means, comparable to the jack mechanisms 36 and 38 and to the cables 34 illustrated in Fig. l, may be provided for moving the cage units 260 along the tracks 256 and 258 to position selected cage units 260 upon the platforms 250 of the elevators 248.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 17 is very similar to that of the embodiment of Fig. 1. When, as shown at the left in Fig. 17, an elevator 248 is moved to its uppermost position, the base member 252 is in alignment with the ground oor 232 of the buildingso that an automobile may traverse the opening 244 served by that particular elevator 248. When a plurality of adjacent elevators in one of the lanes 240 and 242 are so positioned, there is no obstruction to the passage of automobiles over the base members 252 of these elevators.

It should be noted also that when an elevator 248 is in its uppermost position, its platform member 250 is in alignment with the upper oor 234 of the building 230.

'In this position, the platform contributes to the support 0f the cage units 260 and the connecting framework 262.

When it is desired to position one of the automobile supporting surfaces on a cage 260 for loading or unloading, the elevator 248 may be lowered, as indicated at the right in Fig. 17, to move such surface into alignment with the ground oor 232 of the building 230. The other automobile supporting surfaces of this particular cage 260 may be brought into alignment with the ground floor 232 by additional, short movements of the elevator 248, in a manner comparable to that described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1. When the loading or unloading operations for a particular cage unit 260 have been completed, this cage unit may be returned to the storage level by an upward movement of the elevator 248.

Since the cycle of operations utilized in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 17 so closely approximates that utilized in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1, it is believed that no useful purpose would be served by further elaboration at this point. However, it is pointed out that Fig. 17 illustrates a different spacing of the two rows of elevators 248 and also a different length for the train of cages associated with the framework 262.

l 13 t These variations :have been illustrated to `emphasize the fact that the particular relationships shownl in Fig. 1 are not essential `to the operability of the system. They may be varied when desired to meet the space limitations imposed by the environment in which the invention is utilized.

Many advantages of ,this invention have been set forth above, ,and others will `be apparent from use thereof.

ln this invention, a single Yelevator not only serves more,

than one cageor platform but can serve a train of several cages, `each of which carries compartments for receiving more than a single automobile.

This invention is described in a system using cages with three compartments. I t -will be noted that if single compartment cages or platforms were used, three complete ,trains with separate tracks, wheels, controls and moving Vmeans would be required. For a basement installation the trains described in the present invention rest kon the ground. Should single compartment cages be used instead, the .two added trains would have to be supported by additional vstructures furnished for that sole purpose.

The potential storage lspace required for shifting the trains with three compartment cages as illustrated herein average less than 3,0%. Should single compartment cages or platforms, one above the other, vbe substituted, over 40% would be lost.

Substituting three trains of single compartment cages for one trairi of three compartment cages to be served by a single elevator would bring on many complications as the elevator must be cleared of the cages of two of the trains before it can raise or lower any one selected from the third train cage.

The average distance that the cage trains must be moved transversely to position a selected cage over the elevator is doubledif three single platform cages are substituted for the three compartment cages employed bythe present invention.

Although the -invention has been described in detail with referenceHto-specilc embodiments thereof, various modifications w-il-l be apparent `to persons skilled in the art. Additionally, it will be. evident that the utility of certain features of the invention is not restricted to the parking of automobiles. It is intended, therefore, that the foregoing description be considered as exemplary only and that the scope of the invention be ascertained from the following claims.

Iclaim: 1

l. Means for storing articles in an area having a floor, comprisingV a vertically movable elevator platform adapted to be moved to the level of said door, a plurality of article carriers movably supported on said floor, a frame movably supported on said floor and having a plurality of aligned openings extending vertically therethrough for the reception of said carriers, a freely rotatable roller on said frame between each pair of said openings for guiding the carriers relative to said frame during vertical movement of said carriers and for transmitting motion from said frame to said carriers.

2. Means for storing larticles in an area having a iloor,y

comprising a vertically movable elevator platform adapted to be moved to the level of said oor, a plurality of article carriers normally disposed at said iloor and having a pair of spaced rollers at the bottom thereof, means connecting said carriers together for substantially horizontal movement to form a train but permitting any one of said carriers to be moved vertically relative to the remaining ones, means for moving said train of carriers over said elevator platform to position a selected one of said carriers on said platform, the axes of said rollers being disposed transversely of the path of movement of said train of carriers, a wedge mounted for vertical movement relative to said elevator platform in position to cooperate with the rollers on a carrier located o n said platform, rand means for moving said Wedge upwardly relative to' said platform to drive said wedge between said rollers, whereby, as said wedge moves upwardly, Vsuch carrier may be'shifted slightly along its path of movement to center it relative t0 said platform and then saidwedge moves into clamping Vrelationship with said rollers to connect said carrier to said platform.

3. Means for storing articles in an area having a floor with a hole therethrough, comprising an elevator platform adapted to be supported by said door over said hole and having a vertical opening therethrough, rails mounted on the upper surface of said platform, rails mounted on said oor in alignment with the rails on said platform, an article carrier, wheels on said article carrier for cooperating with said rails to establish a path of movement for said carrier across said platform, a pair yof spaced rollers mounted on the bottom of said carrier out of alignment with said rails and in alignment with said opening in said platform, the axes of saidrollers being substantially parallel to the axes of said wheels, an elevator bolsterv be neath {saidplatform, a wedge secured to said bolster in position to extend upwardly through said opening, and means for imparting upward movement to said bolster when said rollers on said Acarrier are above said opening to drive said wedge into clamping relationship with said rollers and to lift said vplatform with said carrier supported thereon.`

V-l. Means Afor storing vehicles which comprises a facility having a loading level and a lower storage level, an elevator platform yadapted tojbe supported by said facility at said storage level and having an opening therethrough, a plurality of vehicle carriers vnormally disposed at said storage level, each `of said carriers including at least one vehicle support surface andhaving a pair of spaced rollers at the bottom thereof, means for moving said carriers over said elevator platform to position a selected oneof said carriers on said platform with said rollers located above vthe opening in lsaid platform, an elevator bolster beneath said platform, a wedge secured to said bolster in position to extend upwardly through said opening in s aid platform, and means for imparting upward movement to said bolster to drive said wedge into clamping relatiouship with said rollers and to lift said platform while the selected carrier is supported thereon'.

5 Means for storing vehicles which comprises a facility having a loading level and a storage level, said loading level having a plurality of parallel lanes for the movement of vehicles therealong, a plurality of groups of vehicle carriers normally disposed at said storage level with the carriers of each group arranged in a straight line extending approximately Vat right angles to said lanes, each of said carriers including al plurality of vertically spaced support surfaces onto each of which a vehicle may be moved, means connecting the carriers of each group together for substantially horizontal movement to form trains but permitting any one of the carriers of each train to be moved vertically relative to the remaining ones, a plurality of rows of vertically movable elevators for moving said carriers between said levels, the elevators of each of said rows being disposed along one of said lanes, means for independently moving each of said trains of carriers lengthwise thereof back and forth along a straight line path intersecting the vertical path of an elevator in each of said rows of elevators with at least one end of each of said straight line paths being spaced outwardly from the nearest of said lanes a distance no shorter than the length of a predetermined whole number of carrier spaces as measured along the length of the train, said predetermined number being atleast as great as one .less than the quotient obtained by dividing the number of said carriers in the train by the number of elevators serving the train, so that any selected one of said carriers in any of said groups may be brought to an elevator by a single movement of its train through a distance less than the length 15 of suchtrain, and means for imparting vertical movement to said elevators in either direction, whereby an elevator may be moved vertically in onedirection to remove a selected carrier from a train of carriers and to transfer any selected vehicle supporting surface thereof to said loading level and then may be moved vertically again a suicient number of times to position the other of said plurality of vehicle supporting surfaces of the selected carrier at said loading level and then may be moved vertically to return the selected carrier toits train of carriers at the storage level.

6. Means for storing vehicles as defined in claim 5, wherein said storage level is below said loading level.

7. Means for storing vehicles as defined in claim 5, wherein said storage level is above said loading level.

8. Means for storing articles which comprises a facility having a loading level and a lower storage level, said loading level having an opening therethrough, stationary vertical rails extending upwardly from said loading level adjacent said opening, a hatch cover normally closing said opening and having guides cooperating with said rails to restrict said hatch cover to vertical movements, elevator means movable vertically between said levels beneath said opening, a plurality of article carriers normally disposed at said storage level, each of said carriers including a` plurality of vertically Aspaced support surfaces onto each of which an article may be moved, means connecting said carriers together for horizontal movement to form a train but permitting any one of said carriers to be moved vertically relative to the remaining ones, means for moving said train ofcarriers back and forth along a substantially straight line path extending across said elevator means with the ends of said path being spaced from the opposite sides of said elevator means so that any selected one of said carriers may be positioned on said elevator means by a single movement of said train, means for imparting vertical movement to said elevator means in either direction, whereby said elevator means may be moved vertically in one direction to remove the selected carrier from said train of carriers and to transfer any selected article supporting surface thereof to said loading level and then may be moved vertically again a suflcient number of times to position the other of said plurality of article supporting surfaces of the selected carrier at said loading level and then may be returned vertically to the storage level to return the selected carrier to said train` of carriers, and means for coupling the selected carrier to said hatch cover during vertical movement thereof so that said rails prevent lateral movements of the upper end of such carrier.

.9. Means for storing vehicles Vwhich comprises a facility having a loading leveland a storage level, a pluvators for moving said carriers between said levels, means for moving said train of carriers back and forth along a straight line path intersecting the vertical paths of said aligned elevators with at least one end of said straight line path being spaced outwardly from `the nearest of saidelevators a distance no shorter than the length of a 'predetermined whole number of carrier spaces as measured along the length of the train, said predetermined number being at least as great as one less than the quo tient obtained by dividing the number of said carriers in the train by the number of elevators serving the train, so that any selected one of said carriers may be brought to an elevator by a single movement of said train through a distance less than the length of said train, and means for imparting vertical movement to said elevators in either direction, whereby an elevator may be moved vertically n one direction to remove the selected carrier from said train of carriers and to transfer any selected vehicle supporting surface thereof to said loading level and then may be moved vertically again a sufficient number of times to position the other of said plurality of vehicle support- ,i'ug surfaces of the selected carrier at said loading level and then may be moved vertically to return the selected carrier to said train of carriers at the storage level.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,423 Lamb Feb. 6, 1894 1,785,402 `Arentzen Dec. 16, 1930 1,851,502 Ferris et al. Mar. 29, 1932 2,014,351 Becker Sept. 10, 1935 2,107,210 Palm Feb. l, 1938 2,186,854 Auger et al. Jan. 9, 1940 2,229,776 Steinhorn Jan. 28, 1941 2,303,656 Orr Dec. 1, 1942 2,412,009 Rickland Dec. 3, 1946 2,423,557 Gray July 8, 1947 2,658,632 Baumel Nov. 10, 1953 2,712,875 Leopold July 12, 1955 2,745,561 Natkanski May l5, 1956 2,787,386 `Peterson Apr. 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,530 Germany May 23, 1935 

